how old do children

[shelly1]

how old do children have to be before you can leave them alone all night and is there a law that can prevent anyone from doing this?

[Ethel]

There is no law. Good info here:

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/HelpAndAdvice/Parentsa ndcarers/HomeAlone/homealone_wda35965.html

[shelly1]

thanks ethel
i'm not happy with this situation my ex has had the children over the weekend and left them on own until sunday lunch time with no way of them contacting anyone if they needed help i wasn't made aware that this was going to happen the youngest is only 12 oldest being 16 does anyone know if i have a legal standing to prevent this happening again

[Ethel]

Well there is nothing illegal in leaving a 16 year old alone with siblings.

I suggest you buy him or her a mobile phone so you can be contacted if it happens again - and then you can fetch them home if you are unhappy about it.

I agree it does seem shabby treatment, but not unlawful.

[bonnielassie]

My answer is re law in Scotland, may be minor variations for England but Iprinciples should be the same. There is no law specifying an age when kids can be left on their own. However, parents have legal responsibilties towards their children including to safeguard their welfare 7 development & another to exercise their parental rights in the best interests of their children (see Children (Scotland) Act 1995 or Children Act). So having thought about the childs age &stage & their needs (eg for supervision, safety, protection, guidance, etc) the parent has to decide how best to meet those needs in any given circumstance. So think about each of your kids, the situation, what harm might it cause them,& what safeguards are their and make a decision on whether it is an ok situation. Ultimately they are your responsibility and if you leave them in a sitaution of actual or potential risk & the authorities becoem aware then you will be held accountable. Were you married to your ex and is he the childrens father? If so he will have the same rights & responsibilities as you but you can each exercise these independanatly of the other. D something about it!- talking to your ex would be the first step in this process. But if things are not amicable then you may need to get help from a family mediation service or a lawyer. The childrens needs are the priority. If you, your children and your ex have agreed (or court decided for you) that this contact is important for them then I think you all have to revisit the current arrangements in light of the fact that when he has the opportunity for contact with them your ex is off doing something else.You can leave a 16 year old to look after a youger child but again if anything hapens your choice of babysitter will be examined. You can also call your local child care social workers for some advice and guidance on the matter but i think you will get pretty much what I say above.